============================ SHADOW HEARTS WALKTHROUGH ============================ For PS2 Version 1.0 - 29 Jan 2002 By: LyssaJ, email ljaraba@earthlink.net DISCLAIMER: Shadow Hearts and everything associated with it belongs to Midway and Sacnoth and Aruze. I'm just a player who got a little obsessed with doing as much in the game as I could find to do. Some info may be erroneous. If it is and you find it, please let me know and I'll amend it. I've done my best to be accurate. This walkthrough is not perfectly complete as I got 100% of the monsters but only 98% of the treasure, so as soon as I find those other missing bits I'll update the walkthrough. Shadow Hearts Walkthrough, China I. General Notes. II. Train to Fengtian. III. Dalian to Shanghai. IV. Temple Ruins. V. Shanghai to Kowloon Fortress. VI. Kuihai Tower. I. General Notes Judgement Ring: Rather than giving you the plain old pick an action and it gets done automatically thing, Shadow Hearts makes you work for it. For every attack, special skill, or item action in battle you have to hit the appropriate area on the judgement ring to have it be successful. It sounds a lot more complicated than it is and you'll soon have the positions memorized. If you're brave, aim for the red zones. Hitting all of the red zones in a sweep means you get a perfect ring. Not only does this increase the effect of the action, it also improves your score. You'll also come across areas in the game where you have to do a judgement ring to continue. These come in three forms: normal spin ring, multiple spin ring, and push ring. A normal spin ring is like an attack ring, with the exception that you must hit all three areas to succeed. In a multiple spin ring, the hand will sweep around the ring multiple times. You have to hit all three areas each time it sweeps to succeed. A push ring is the more tricky and frustrating one, where you have to quickly and repeatedly push the X button to move the hand and try to position it within the hit area during the time given. You'll find it much more possible to do this if you set the controller down and use your forefinger rather than your thumb or if you have a controller with a rapidfire option. Failing on a ring to continue the game has no negative effect except on your score, so keep trying and eventually you'll get it, perhaps after some vivid language and a cramp in your wrist, but you will get it. Score: Don't worry, it doesn't have a game effect, it's only there to humiliate you, er, make you try harder next time. The highest rank is 1, the lowest 100, and it's based on the accumulation of all the different points listed in the score menu. The second playthrough your last score will be posted next to your current one so you can see how you're doing. My rank on my second playthough was 10 Hate, and I'm a game gimp, so have confidence, you can beat me, I'm sure of it. Graveyard of Souls: After your first battle with Fox Face you'll become very familiar with this place. You can access it from the menu whenever you're at a save point or on the world map. This is where you'll go to fight and obtain your fusion souls and to clear malice to keep Fox Face from showing up again. When you've leveled up on your soul energy chart the elemental icon will glow, letting you know that a fusion soul is available. Go to the Graveyard and approach the glowing tombstone to start the battle. If you beat the soul, it's yours. In China you'll only be able to get the first level souls on the first playthrough, but keep building up that soul energy so you can grab the level 2 and 3 souls in Europe. To clear malice, approach the masks on the left side of the Graveyard and tell them you want to clear your malice. You'll find yourself in a one on one battle against a malice monster. If you die here, it doesn't end the game, but it does add another unconscious to your score if you care about that kind of thing. Malice: It's up to you how often you like to clear malice. You can do it after every fight if you want to, but keep in mind that those thera leaves aren't going to be enough to cover the damage later on and the malice monsters level up with you so you will take damage quite often. However, the lower monsters are easier to beat. You can also randomly get nice goodies from the masks (I've gotten seals and silver hands). If you get to red, don't panic. You won't immediately be set upon. You can either get to a save point and clear the malice for no prize except not facing Fox Face, or you can take him on. Heal and restore MP before he comes. He's not as impossible as you think. It sometimes takes luck and him missing you with that Dark Messenger attack, but what it mostly takes is paying attention. If you have a light soul, use that one, it will do more damage (and since Dark Messenger will do 999 if it hits, it doesn't matter that you're more vulnerable yourself). You won't get any money or experience, but you will get 5 soul energy points in all six elements every time you beat him. Remember to clear your malice when you do get to a save point or you'll be facing him again. Lotteries: Starting in Fengtian you'll be able to participate in lotteries as long as you have a ticket. You can get unique items this way as well as items that aren't available until later in the game. I recommend that you find a save point before you do a lottery and then come back so you don't waste all your tickets. You're not going to want to run out as you must play against all 15 lottery members to win the big one and you're also going to have to lose one lottery in Europe, plus the later members have cool stuff you'll want to save your extra tickets for. Use any Judgement Ring accessories you have when you play a lottery as there are irregularities. Boss Fights: I tend to be a 'kill them, kill them all' strategist in fights, and it's always worked in Shadow Hearts. For the most part, slam them with your biggest attacks and have someone ready to heal and toss in needed items. I usually assign Alice or Zhuzhen to this job in China, and Alice, Zhuzhen, or Halley in Europe. Keep an eye on your points and fix anything that goes yellow with your support member and hammer away like hell the rest of the time and you shouldn't have problems with the bosses. In a few cases special items are needed to survive and I'll let you know when you need to specially equip your party for a boss. VIP Equipment: This is a partial list of some of the most useful accessories in the game. Some of these won't be available until Europe, but you'll want to equip and use them a lot. Pedometer: You get this in Fengtian. Equip it and wear it in any monster area. Save up your steps and get those Belts of Power, they're great. And if you build up enough steps at the end, you get a very cool bonus prize. Accelerator: You'll get this in Europe. Worn with the Pedometer it'll really boost your steps. Belt of Power: Second strongest belt in the game. These can definately boost your attacks and you can get them early on if you wear your pedometer and wander around monster infested areas a lot. Flare Brooch: Particularly on your second playthrough, this is fantastic. Pick it up in Dalian after the boss fight by going to the back door of the weapons and armor shop. It lowers fusion SP consumption by 20% so you can equip and use those higher level souls as soon as you've levelled up to an SP equal to what it takes to use them normally (ie, if it takes 48 SP to fuse with Czernobog, you can't equip him until you level up to have 48 SP, however, you can equip him at that point and use him and only spend 38 SP to fuse, allowing you to fight without going berserk the instant you fuse). Brigand Earrings: Money is going to become very very important. Snap a pair of these on each of your characters in your party and you can up your trophy money by 60%. The drawback is you drop your item prize chances by the same amount, but in most of China and about half of Europe you'll do better making the cash. Buy them in China because they're unavailable in Europe when you really need cash. Pirate Earrings: The opposite of Brigand Earrings. These up your item chances by 20%, decreasing your trophy money at the same time. Wear them on all three in your party and it's 60% instead of just 20%. Incredibly useful in the hidden areas and Neamato since you can get fantastic restorative items from the monsters there and you're unlikely to need the money by then. Buy them in China because they're unavailable in Europe where you'll use them the most. Thief Earrings: These come late in the game in the side quest area, but with them both money and items go up 20%, giving you cash and items when you need both the most to finish levelling up those ultimate weapons and to stock up for the harder battles. Zodiac/Cosmic Bracelets: You can pick these up if you make the side trip to Kowloon Fortress or later in Europe. Protect against a multiplicity of status attacks. Pocket Watch: Prevents judgement ring abnormalities. You'll want one for lotteries especially. You'll win one in your second lottery so you'll be ready for any of the trickier ones later on, and you can buy them in Europe. Crucifix: The holy grail of status attack protection. Stops all status attacks in their tracks, including instant death. You'll start getting them in Europe. Monk Earrings: For a slight drop in your SP while they're equipped, you can up your experience points by 20%. Since you'll be getting most regular battles done in just a few rounds anyhow, stick these on and rack up your levels. You'll get them in Europe, by which point everyone should have enough SP to make it through even boss battles with them on. Now you're really gaining levels. Mind's Eye: If you're comfortable with where the hit areas are, equip one of these. You'll get a blind ring, but your attacks will be devestating. Using Seals: To get the maximum benefit of Seals (stat enhancing items) use them in battle. You will have to complete a judgement ring, so if you want, save before you use them and if you don't get the maximum effect, reload and start again. If you use them outside of battle, you'll only get 1 point for each Seal item. (Thanks to Azalin for figuring this one out.) II. Train to Fengtian Train: 2nd car examine bodies for mana leaf and thera leaf. 3rd car leads to boss fight, expect loss. Plains: 1st screen pure leaf, 2nd screen exit top right to chest, leather belt. Sluice gates examine upper right gate, return to either of other gates to get sluice gate handle (top gate spin ring, bottom gate push ring). Save, examine top right gate again. Head back towards the save point. Dialogue scene and boss fight follow. Expect loss. Go to Graveyard, examine glowing tombstone to fight Earth soul. Talk to Masks in upper left corner, easy fight. Save, continue. After sluice gate, can get mana seed, mermaid's tear. Zhoayang Village: Stop before entering village to get chest, holy mother bust. Search grounds inside village for angel's feather, bronze arrowhead, tent, talisman of luck. (Lost Peddler: bandanna, leather belt, shell bracelet, bone bracelet, thera leaf, mana leaf, bronze arrowhead, silver hourglass, tent). Go all the way to the back of the village and enter the shrine to continue the story. Granny's house, check around after the mini bosses for a phoenix tail. After Granny's house there's monsters, but the lost peddler is still wanderring about to help you keep up items to stay alive. Go to shrine, go to gate, get Zhuzhen, meet Meiyuan. It might be a good idea to hang around and earn enough money to have Meiyuan level up your weapons, as well as levelling up your party if you like to beat the bosses easily, and see if you can get your level 1 wind and earth souls here. Return to Granny's house. Metal bowl in shop stand, torch to right of Meiyuan at front gate. Return to Granny's house and examine the fire pit in the middle of the room, initiating a boss fight. Afterwards, save, heal up, and head for the shrine again to fight Yamaraja. Search shrine after Yamaraja fight, shell bracelet. Speak to Lost Peddler for guild card. Look around for a Lottery Ticket. Fengtian: 1st screen talisman of luck, tent. Lottery 15, Jade Lariat. Silent Peddler, pedometer. Talk to everyone, then talk to Alice. After she joins you again, exit to the left. 2nd screen immediate upper right for chest, tent before entering shop, you can't get back to it or the first screen after you enter the shop. (Fentian Item Shop: knuckle blade, shooting star tome, leather vest, leather skirt, bandanna, leather belt, shell bracelet, bone bracelet, rosewood bracelet, holy mother bust, angel's feather, spikes, thera leaf, mana leaf, pure leaf, talisman of luck, mermaid's tear, phoenix tail, bronze dagger, gold hourglass, tent.) After explosion, lottery ticket left side of screen, Item Shop contains Meiyuan, Lottery 15, Silent Peddler. Sewers 1st screen gold hourglass on lower right side, return to left and go up, turn left, pure seed in chest on lower side, examine upper side cave-in for lost puppy, add Margarete to team, return to examine cave-in for lottery ticket. Right side of sewers go up to chest, type 94 pistol, return to right branch, save point, ladder, go up, after explosion return to left side, go to end and get key, go past cave-in to get rosewood bracelet. Hang around to get your level 1 water soul as he comes in handy against the next few bosses and work towards the 8000 steps required to earn a Belt of Power.. or two.. or three. Return to ladder and use key, boss fight, two easy fights, boss fight. Lots of dialogue. III. Dalian to Shanghai Dalian: Search grounds for lottery ticket, talisman of luck, tea of the healer, silver hourglass, seal of aura, red phoenix talon. Find turtle for talisman of luck. After Yen Yen dies, go into room for tent. (Seaturtle Restaurant Shop: bandanna, leather cap, leather belt, casual belt, shell bracelet, bone bracelet, rosewood bracelet, spikes, brigand earrings, pirate earrings, thera leaf, mana leaf, pure leaf, taliksman of luck, mermaid's tear, holy mother bust, angel's feather, phoenix tail, bronze arrowhead, bronze dagger, silver hourglass, gold hourglass, tent.) (Weapons & Armor Shop: knuckle blade, shooting star tome, hexagonal staff, type 94 pistol, leather vest, leather skirt.) Pretty self explanatory from there. Recommended you buy brigand earrings, three of them, and equip all party members to raise trophy money by 60%, get enough money that you can level up your weapons after the boss fight. Three pairs of Pirate Earrings will also come in very handy in Europe and you need to buy them while still in China because they won't be available once you get to Europe. Very easy to get your level 1 light soul here. This will be your last chance to get levelled up on weapons before Shanghai. Return to Weapons Shop after boss fight, talk to boy in back to be let in for Flare Brooch (very handy for second time round, can use higher level souls as soon as your SP is high enough to equip them). In morning, Meiyuan in inn room. Get fish from woman, take to Sea Mother. Lottery 14, pocket watch. Turtle pen, spin rings to get thera leaves, mana leaves, pure leaves, third key (if anyone has gotten other prizes than this let me know). Board boat. Smuggler's Boat: Rosewood bracelet in chest, witch's broth on barrels, lottery ticket inside wheelhouse. Talk to Alice, then Margarete, then examine wheelhouse door, then talk to Zhuzhen, then return to Alice. Dialogue will lead you from there, pretty easy. Kato's Item Shop: knuckle blade, shooting star tome, hexagonal staff, type 94 pistol, leather vest, leather skirt, bandanna, leather cap, leather belt, casual belt, shell bracelet, bone bracelet, rosewood bracelet, spikes, voodoo doll, thera leaf, mana leaf, pure leaf, talisman of luck, mermaid's tear, holy mother bust, angel's feather, phoenix tail, bronze arrowhead, bronze dagger, silver hourglass, gold hourglass, tent. Tell Kato you don't want to shop and he becomes Lottery 13, Iron Clogs. Here is a good place to get your level 1 fire soul. When ready, talk to Zhuzhen for double boss fight. Shouldn't be difficult if you levelled up your weapons in Fengtian. Shanghai 1: Pilgrim's staff outside inn, search grounds for talisman of mercy, blue dragon horn, seal of life, mana seed, lottery ticket, go all the way down right side street to boat and into hold of boat for Lottery 12, Star Card (tough lottery, recommend you save so you can give it a few tries and equip Zhuzhen with the Pocket Watch and Iron Clogs). (Mika's House Shop: leather cap, studded cap, casual belt, western belt, shell bracelet, bone bracelet, rosewood bracelet, bell bracelet, spikes, voodoo doll, brigand earrings, pirate earrings, thera leaf, thera seed, mana leaf, mana seed, pure leaf, pure seed, talisman of luck, talisman of mercy, mermaid's tear, holy mother bust, angel's feather, faerie's sigh, phoenix tail, bronze arrowhead, bronze dagger, silver hourglass, gold hourglass, tent.) Go to bar in lower left corner of 1st city screen. Talk to shop clerk, cinema followed by dialogue. Two easy fights, then boss fight, expect to lose, Yuri comes in, Yuri fights boss, fairly easy win. (Shanghai Weapons Studio: steel claw, tome of the moon, pilgrim's staff, nanbu pistol, studded harness, studded bustier.) Pit Fights: 1st round of ten, 5000 cash and Anne's Cross, successive rounds 5000 cash. Meiyuan and Silent Peddler available. Equip Yuri and Zhuzen for battle with one of them wearing the pedometer if you're going for pedometer prizes (which are worth it when you build up to the big numbers, the Belt of Power is the second strongest belt in the game). IV. Temple Ruins Temple Ruins: Go left before entering temple, save point, talisman of mercy. Go to main temple, then return to Kato. (Kato Pachimon: leather cap, studded cap, casual belt, western belt, shell bracelet, bone bracelet, rosewood bracelet, bell bracelet, spikes, leonardo's bear, voodoo doll, thera leaf, thera seed, mana leaf, mana seed, pure leaf, pure seed, talisman of luck, talisman of mercy, mermaid's tear, holy mother bust, angel's feather, faerie's sigh, phoenix tail, bronze arrowhead, bronze dagger, silver hourglass, gold hourglass, tent.) Buy at least two Leonardo's Bears, you'll find one in the mazes, but you'll want them on all three in your party for a future boss fight. Return to Zhuzhen, then go down steps and follow path. Once in the trials you can't leave the temple until you're done, so make a second save if you're not sure you've got everything you need other than shop stuff. You'll be able to shop from Meowster Xiaofang in the trials. (Xiaofang's Shop (the same in all places in the temple): steel claw, tome of the moon, pilgrim's staff, nanbu pistol, studded harness, studded bustier, leather cap, studded cap, casual belt, western belt, shell bracelet, bone bracelet, rosewood bracelet, talisman of luck, talisman of mercy, mermaid's tear, holy mother bust, angel's feather, faerie's sigh, phoenix tail, bronze arrowhead, bronze dagger, silver hourglass, gold hourglass, tent.) Dan Tian Court: You won't be able to use items in battle. Make sure you clear your malice before you go in because there's not another save point until the very end. Explore the whole place to get all the items, I'm not giving you the way through it. I never got lost, and if I can manage it, so can you. They're not that hard, really. Go from the green disk to the yellow to the red, there'll be a save point at the shrine at the end where you can clear malice and come back to find anything you missed if malice forced you to rush ahead without exploring. Purple disks lead to another disk in the same level, so avoid them if you don't know where they go and don't want to get seriously lost, if you know where they go they make good shortcuts. Treasure: tent, bronze arrowhead, tea of the healer, white tiger hair, bronze dagger, mana seed, bell bracelet, talisman of mercy. Before you fight the boss, save, take off the pedometer and anything you want Margarete and Alice to have. Fairly easy boss fight. Jiang Palace: This time you've got Alice and Margarete and your special skills are sealed in battle. Not too hard to make it through, just have Alice cure between battles if you start getting low. Good idea to move Alice to the front row so she can wipe out enemies in one round instead of two and you take fewer hits. Same idea as Dan Tian Court, follow the paths, explore, green, yellow, red. Since you don't have to worry about malice, go ahead and take your time. Note: those soldiers are dark and will build up even though Yuri's not in the party, so take advantage now. Treasure: tent, blue tortoise fang, western belt, voodoo doll, thera seed, gold hourglass. Again, save at the end and take off the pedometer so it will be available to Yuri and Zhuzhen. Don't give Alice anything that can't be replaced easily since this will be the last time she's active in your party for a while. Easy boss fight. Put Alice up front and get it killed early. Ni Wan Palace: This is your final maze and you have Yuri and Zhuzhen again, this time with no items and no special skills in battles. Same drill, it's a longer maze, so get ready to sprint for the red and then come back after you've cleared malice. Treasure: tent, thera seed, mana seed, leonardo's bear, soul benediction, studded cap, pure seed, seal of wisdom, wooden token. Lottery 11, Flash Badge. Make sure you have the wooden token since you'll need it to initiate the boss fight. Very easy fight. Dialogue, then you'll wind up back in the pavilion again. Before you go -anywhere- equip your party. Give everyone Leonardo's Bears or you'll have a tough time of it. Wugui plays the instant death game and can kill off the entire party easily. If you have the bears equipped your characters might feel a little silly, but who cares? Wugui becomes a fairly harmless boss and you can whomp his hiney. Start to exit the pavilion to initiate the fight. You'll wake up in Shanghai. Alice will be in Dehuai's clutches. Respond with the first answer all three times. V. Shanghai to Kowloon Fortress Shanghai 2: Search around for a lottery ticket and take the opportunity to raid Japanese HQ in the lower right corner of the side street to get a tea of the healer. Go into the bar and come back out for a key dialogue. Go to the ship and get the key, then return to the inn. Exit Shanghai, go to Kuihai Tower, but don't go past the opening dialogue scene before heading back and going to Shanghai again. Head to the dock and play the dog game for 300 a pop. Prizes are a lottery ticket, a leonardo's bear, and a monkey paw. Go to the ship for your first side quest, Kowloon Fortress. Kowloon Fortress: Lottery 10, Mind's Eye. I'd recommend arming yourself with Iron Clogs and a Jade Lariat for this one. (Head on over to the Silent Peddler for the Tight Lipped Merchant's Shop, stocked with incredible goodies that will make Kuihai Tower a breeze: leather cap, studded cap, casual belt, western belt, zodiac bracelet, cosmic bracelet, spikes, leonardo's bear, voodoo doll, thera leaf, thera seed, mana leaf, mana seed, pure leaf, pure seed, talisman of luck, talisman of mercy, talisman of wisdom, mermaid's tear, holy mother bust, angel's feather, faerie's sigh, imp's fang, phoenix tail, bronze arrowhead, bronze dagger, silver hourglass, gold hourglass, tent.) Definately grab three zodiac bracelets before entering the fortress and equip them to stave off paralysis and petrify. This will be your toughtest area yet, the monsters in here are mini bosses in their own right. Put on those protective items and go wreak havoc to your heart's content. Along the way pick up a mana root, hand needle, face guard, seal of the soul, thera root, pure root, lottery ticket, and soul benediction. By wearing Pirate Earrings you can pick up more root items and talismans that could be helpful in your fight against Dehuai. Go into the first stairway to the right and grab the key to Wugui's room, then head on up the tower and save at the top. Equip yourself with Leonardo's Bears again and go find out what Roger Bacon did with Wugui along with a few things that have even Yuri reeling with how gross it is. Once you've beaten Wugui you'll clear the tower of monsters, so don't miss out on the chance to level up before you fight him. Hint: one of the enemies you'll face is a pairing of a speckled creeper and a happy creeper (one will look like a yellowish-greenish-bluish frogman, the other will have a skeleton head). The speckled creeper is immune to physical damage, the happy creeper is immune to special skills. Try to get rid of the speckled creeper first because he can do a major physical attack. Happy creeper likes to silence you, but if you can kill off speckled before you're silenced, it won't matter because a few hits will take the happy creeper down. You should have plenty of money if you hung around long enough in the temple ruins and Kowloon Fortress to level up Yuri's new weapon and get everyone ready to take on Kuihai Tower. VI. Kuihai Tower Kuihai Tower: Go to the chests on either side of the walkway up to the tower for a seal of life and a third key, then prepare to fight a decent boss. If you levelled up in Kowloon Fortress, you should have no difficulty. When that's over you'll automatically pick up the Black Tortoise Votive. Go into the tower, head up the right staircase, put the votive on the altar. hunt around the wires for a pure extract, then go out the door to the right and get the White Tiger Votive. Go back down the stairs and around behind the pillar to get a lottery ticket, then back to the door on the left of the pillar. Go in, pick up the Red Phoenix Votive and replace it with the White Tiger Votive. Take the Red Phoenix Votive up the left stairs and put it on the altar to unlock the door to the right. Go through the door to get the Blue Dragon Votive and take it back to the room where you left the White Tiger Votive. Pick up the White Tiger Votive and put the Blue Dragon Votive in its place. Make sure you grab the Erotic Book on the left side of the screen. Go back out and put the White Tiger Votive in the altar in front of the pillar. If you haven't picked up Brigand and Pirate Earrings yet, this is your last chance to go back to Shanghai and grab three pairs of each. You'll want them in Europe. You can now go back up the right staircase and save (I recommmend a second save as you won't be able to go back after this), then pass through the way that was blocked by the seal before. You'll face a minor boss battle here and then immediately afterwards a much tougher fight against Dehuai. Go back and save and get ready for the last battle of China. Down the staircase at the bottom of the screen in the top room of the tower you'll find a chest with a talisman of luck. Talk to the Japanese soldiers, one of them will change your party for you, and if you tell him not to, will become Lottery 9, Warlock Earrings. The other is an item shop. (Shanghai Transport Logistic Company 8: steel claw, tome of the moon, pilgrim's staff, nanbu pistol, studded harness, studded bustier, leather cap, studded cap, casual belt, western belt, bone bracelet, rosewood bracelet, bell bracelet, mirror bracelet, spikes, leonardo's bear, voodoo doll, thera leaf, thera seed, mana leaf, mana seed, pure leaf, pure seed, talisman of luck, talisman of mercy, mermaid's tear, holy mother bust, angel's feather, faerie's sigh, imp's fang, phoenix tail, bronze arrowhead, bronze dagger, silver hourglass, gold hourglass.) Below the Item Shop soldier you'll find another lottery ticket. This will be the last time Yuri and Margarete are in your party for a while, so prepare accordingly. I usually take Margarete and Zhuzhen and give them zodiac and cosmic bracelets to protect against Dehuai's myriad status attacks and equip Yuri with a light soul so he can do healing as well as Zhuzhen (if you have Nourishing Potion learned at that point). Zhuzhen is actually a bit more effective with the attacks, so I assign Margarete to support on this battle, but she can do some good work on the side if she has Snipe. Keep your HP up and nail him every chance you get with your most powerful special attacks. After this you'll get a cool cinema and your China adventure ends. NEXT: EUROPE Shadow Hearts Walkthrough, Europe I. General Notes and Level 3 Fusion Souls. II. Prague to Blue Castle. III. Rouen to London. IV. Nemeton Monastery. V. Side Quests, Documents, Hidden Bosses, Ultimate Weapons and Armor. VI. Neamato. I. General notes and boss fights General Notes: The masks are tougher than old Fox Face was, but you get your whole party to go after them. You'll want to wait until after you have the Oath Grail to do the battles, though. Fortunately, you will now be able to do almost everything without Alice in the party and malice is attached to her once you get Yuri back, not Yuri. You'll only have two battle areas where you're forced to take Alice with you, Nemeton Monastery and the Dollhouse. If you haven't beaten the masks, keep an eye on your malice in Nemeton Monastery as you have to run back and forth several times, but you get free healing at the entrance, so Yuri taking hits won't matter too much. Each mask that you beat will not only give you massive experience and money, but you'll get a ring from each one that will cut damage from the element they correspond to in half. Make sure you have Yuri check the tombstone in the Graveyard of Souls next to the Dark headstone after the battles. Subsequent battles against the 'dead' masks will give you minimal experience and money and a thera leaf. For full info see the Mask Battle below. Wear those Brigand Earrings everywhere, you're going to need a few million in cash to level up the ultimate weapons by the end. Level 3 Fusion Souls: To get a level 3 soul you need to find the corresponding gravestone (they're all listed in the walkthrough at the earliest opportunity to grab them) and have your soul energy levelled up to max. Fight the fusion soul in the graveyard just like the earlier souls. You'll note when you first get a level 3 soul that the final special attack is shown only as ?????. To get the attack, all you have to do is go berserk. This is best accomplished in the Graveyard so you don't have to deal with everyone else in the party. Equip the soul and the small jug so your SP will drop faster. Go fight a malice monster. Fuse at the beginning of the battle and defend until your SP drops to 0 and you go berserk. The soul will automatically use and learn the final attack. II. Prague to Blue Castle Tower Prague: Head on into town once you have the characters, searching the 1st screen for a zodiac bracelet, then save, then talk to the guard dozing next to the save point. He's Lottery 8, Berserker Earrings. This is possibly the easiest lottery you will do. Beyond him and behind the tavern search the ground for a kirin scale. At the end of town on the left side of the screen is a chest with a lottery ticket. Go back and go inside the bar where Zhuzhen wanders off to use the men's room. To the left of the tavern owner is a priest's wine. Talk to the old woman with the shop. (Time Is Money Shop: chainmail vest, silk bolero, studded cap, faceguard, western belt, shell bracelet, bone bracelet, rosewood bracelet, bell bracelet, mirror bracelet, spikes, leonardo's bear, voodoo doll, jade lariat, thera seed, thera root, mana seed, mana root, pure leaf, pure seed, talisman of luck, talisman of mercy, mermaid's tear, holy mother bust, angel's feather, faerie's sigh, imp's fang, phoenix tail, bronze arrowhead, bronze dagger, silver hourglass, gold hourglass, tent.) Zhuzhen will come out and a dialogue will happen. Equip your characters and head to the back end of town when prompted by Terry's scream. Fairly easy bossfight. Silent Peddler and Meiyuan available after fight. Bossfight: Birdman, item holy mother bust, XP 840. Bistritz 1: Check out the ground at the gate in the 1st screen to get a lottery ticket. Head to the back end of town to the gate and look just above it to find a mana seed. Go to the shop in the lower right corner of town and explain things to Terry's wife. Have a look around the item shop to get a talisman of wisdom, moon card, and a moon swallow. You can't buy anything at the moment, so head back out and prepare for fighting. Make your way back to the other end of town and check the two leftmost doors. Head back to the door to the immediate right and you can buy weapons. (Chickenheart: tome of the sun, royal estoc, chainmail vest, silk bolero.) Go talk to the other doors, then head back to the shop. Get prepared to head to Blue Castle. (Do Re Mi shop: studded cap, western belt, metal belt, shell bracelet, bone bracelet, rosewood bracelet, bell bracelet, mirror bracelet, spikes, pocket watch, leonardo's bear, voodoo doll, coral lariat, thera seed, thera root, mana seed, mana root, pure leaf, pure seed, talisman of luck, talisman of mercy, soul benediction, bronze arrowhead, bronze dagger, silver hourglass, gold hourglass, tent.) Monsters: Birdmanx3, item holy mother bust, XP 1260; Mailmanx2/Police Dog, item bronze arrowhead/bronze dagger, XP 1270. Blue Castle: Equip your party with items to prevent paralysis on the trip through the forest and have pocket watches so you can avoid the bats ring abnormalities in the castle. Search the lower left of the forest screen for a cosmic bracelet. Before you go into the castle go right to find a thera seed and star swallow and Meiyuan hunting for a cutie. Go inside the castle and up the stairs, then left and down to the bottom of the screen, stopping on the way to pick up the tent in the chest. Cross to the right and go down the stairs and pick up the pocket watch in the chest just below them. Go up to the room at the top right corner and enter it. Go up to the open coffin, then go behind it on the right side and walk along the ledge to get to a small platform where a chest has a lottery ticket. Go back down to the other coffins and pray at them in alphabetical order: Abel, Edgar, Frank, Helen, Leon, Maria, Robin, Steven. Leave the room and go back around to the save point, then down the stairs to the right and to the door, which is now unlocked. Enter the room and meet Keith. Head back out with Keith, levelling him up with Meiyuan if you have the money, then return to Bistritz. Monsters: Garmx2, item angel's feather, XP1300; Gremlinx3, item phoenix tail, XP 1110; Hollowx2, item talisman of mercy, XP 880. Bistritz 2: Talk to Nina in the shop. Prepare for a boss fight. Be ready to cast lots of healing during this fight. Go up to Kevin's door and enter. Keith's Drain Touch ability should be pretty good to help him heal up, use Alice's cure for her and Zhuzhen and use Zhuzhen as support to keep her from going berserk and keep them stocked on MP. Being a fire element against a fire element he does less damage than the other two in this fight. After the fight, return to the shop, then return to Kevin's place so Keith can talk. Check the room for a flash badge and a seal of strength. Save. Go to top far right door for Lottery 7, Oracle Earrings. This is a very tough lottery, make sure you have a pocket watch as the ring is irregular without one. Return to Blue Castle. Monsters: Birdmanx3, item holy mother bust, XP 1260; Mailmanx2/Police Dog, item bronze arrowhead/bronze dagger, XP 1270 (eliminated after bossfight). Bossfight: Tindalos, item Iron Clogs, XP 8000. Blue Castle 2: Equip your party with pocket watches. You've got a very long walk. Go to the door on the far left of the castle and Keith will open it for you. Check next to the door for a seal of speed. Head up the stairs, stopping at each of the three rooms on the way. Check the cells inside to find a pure root, lottery ticket, headgear, tent, and seal of force. Save at the top and set yourself up for a bossfight with as much protection against strong physical attacks as you can load up. Go inside and find a nutcase Yuri, who attacks you. Hammer away at him with everything you've got until he decides to make some sense. Alice will be transported to the Graveyard. Monsters: Garmx2, item angel's feather, XP1300; Gremlinx3, item phoenix tail, XP 1110; Hollowx2, item talisman of mercy, XP 880; Hollowx2/Gremlinx3, item phoenix tail/talisman of mercy, XP 1990; Hollowx2/Dark Knight, item talisman of mercy/pure seed, XP 1560; Dark Knight x2, item pure seed, XP 1360. Boss fight: Yuri, no item, no XP Graveyard: Examine the tombstones to find Yuri's essence in them, then go talk to the masks. They'll open the soulgate at the top of the screen for Alice and she'll go talk to Yuri's soul and Fox Face. Yuri must now fight Fox Face, but it's not an overly difficult battle this time. When it's over they'll both return to the Castle with Yuri's malice karma transferred to Alice. Note: Do not put Alice in your party right now! It's a long long trip down those stairs again and you'll never make it without topping your malice and the masks are much harder to beat at this point in the game. Keith joins the group and leaves his castle. Before you go back to Prague, go back into the castle. Boss Fight: Fox Face, item brass knuckles, XP13000. Monsters: Gremlinx3, item phoenix tail, XP 1110; Hollowx2, item talisman of mercy, XP 880; Hollowx2/Gremlinx3, item phoenix tail/talisman of mercy, XP 1990; Hollowx2/Dark Knight, item talisman of mercy/pure seed, XP 1560; Dark Knight x2, item pure seed, XP 1360. Blue Castle 3: Head up the stairs again after equipping Yuri. At the very top you'll find the Dark Gravestone in Yuri's old room. Return to Prague. Monsters: Gremlinx3, item phoenix tail, XP 1110; Hollowx2, item talisman of mercy, XP 880; Hollowx2/Gremlinx3, item phoenix tail/talisman of mercy, XP 1990; Hollowx2/Dark Knight, item talisman of mercy/pure seed, XP 1560; Dark Knight x2, item pure seed, XP 1360. Prague 2: Return to the tavern. Alice will be asked to go into the ladies' room to find Yuria. Check the floor for a lottery ticket, then check both stalls, then the mirror. Continue doing this until Alice is replaced by an old woman. Alice will have to fight one on one, but she should be able to do it before she berserks. When you get out you get the message to go to Rouen. Bossfight: Olga, item monk earrings, XP 15000. Bistritz 3: Before going to Rouen, stop by Bistritz again. In front of the shop examine the shining point. Choose to watch over it, then leave and come back. Repeat this process four times. If you choose to step on it, after the first time you'll get a thera leaf, the second time a thera seed, the third time a thera root, the fourth time a thera extract. Nina will replant and you'll return to find Nina there. She'll give you the Earth Gravestone. III. Rouen to London Rouen 1: Look behind Newlywed Jane's crates for a lottery ticket. Go to the inn and check in, then when you wake up go to Alice's room. She's not there, so talk to the innkeeper, then go through the alley to the area behind the church. You'll encounter Roger Bacon and Olga and Margarete will show up just in time to help fight a very minor battle. Return to the inn. Meiyuan will be in the room behind the stairs and the Silent Peddler will be in the lower right next to the innkeeper. (Tight- lipped Merchant: ever bible, oracle's staff, silver crescent sword, red leather jacket, jasper cape, headgear, circlet, charming pareo, loin guard, shell bracelet, bone bracelet, rosewood bracelet, bell bracelet, mirror bracelet, cosmic bracelet, spikes, pocket watch, will power, leonardo's bear, voodoo doll, jade lariat, coral lariat, thera seed, thera root, mana seed, mana root, pure leaf, pure seed, talisman of mercy, talisman of purity, talisman of wisdom, soul benediction, bronze arrowhead, bronze dagger, silver hourglass, gold hourglass, tent.) Check Yuri's room for Tea of the Healer. Go back behind the church, checking the alley on the way for the huge jug and the area behind the church for a lottery ticket and seal of the soul. Break in the back door of the church with a spin ring and go inside for a dialogue, followed by a boss fight. This one is a bit tough and I suggest you have cosmic bracelets equipped since Olga likes to poison you. Afterwards, go through the upper right door and check the first confessional for a chest with a jasper cape. Go back to the inn and save, then go into the alley and meet Lottery 6, Accelerator. This should pump up your pedometer a great deal and get you to belts of power for everyone in no time, but keep building up steps, there's an even bigger prize coming. (Note: you must equip both the pedometer and accelerator on the same character.) Monsters (in small area behind church only, eliminated after boss fight): Bifronzex2, item thera root, XP 1720, Canazotzx3, item mana root, XP 1860. Boss Fight: Olga, item small jug, XP 16000. Prague 3: Stop in London just long enough to get the opening dialogue, then leave and head back to Prague. Lose a lottery and get some Tissues. Go into the tavern. Darcie is missing, last seen in the toilet. Go find out what's wrong and give him the tissues, then make to leave again. He'll rush out without washing his hands (ew!) and give you the Air Gravestone that he found in the toilet (ew!). Yuri may never look at him the same way again. Note: don't be stingy about losing a lottery ticket here. If you want Seraphic Radiance you can't afford to wait until Margarete wins her tissues in the pit fights later on. London 1: You're automatically given Alice and Margarete for your party. Talk to the guys at the front and say you want the card. It's the Sun Card. Look just behind the inn on the right side of the screen for a lottery ticket. Go back out and save, then come back in armed with a pocket watch, iron clogs, lariats, whatever you need and talk to the old man on his knees for Lottery 5, Priest Earrings. Continue up the street and to the next screen for a dialogue. Go back to the inn after a bit of investigation and then head out again to track down the little bastard. Talk to everyone again. Go into the tavern, the Silent Peddler will be there but you have no money. Go behind the bar to find mana extract. Go out and to the yard in the upper left corner for an oak slingshot. Search the front of the yard of the abandoned house for a thera extract. Open the shutter entry with a push ring. Inside search the grounds to find demon earrings, a lottery ticket, talisman of purity, and make your way upstairs. You'll meet the kids, get your money back and a crucifix. Look around some more for a warning device, soul benediction. Go next door to Carl's house. After dialogue hunt around and pick up a seal of force, lottery ticket, and kirin scale. You can now buy from the Silent Peddler. (Tight-lipped Merchant: ever bible, oracle's staff, silver crescent sword, red leather jacket, jasper cape, headgear, circlet, charming pareo, loin guard, shell bracelet, bone bracelet, rosewood bracelet, bell bracelet, mirror bracelet, cosmic bracelet, spikes, pocket watch, will power, leonardo's bear, voodoo doll, jade lariat, coral lariat, thera seed, thera root, mana seed, mana root, pure leaf, pure seed, talisman of mercy, talisman of purity, talisman of wisdom, soul benediction, bronze arrowhead, bronze dagger, silver hourglass, gold hourglass, tent.) Go to the orphanage for dialogue, then return to the hideout, then go to the inn. Rouen 2: Before heading to the orphanage again, stop by Rouen again. Go up the stairs to Yuri's room and talk to the couple, then go to the church and to the rear confessional. Tell the man to give his wife a diamond and return to the room. Buy the Water Gravestone from the sap. Orphanage 1: You can lose the third member of your party and pick up your favorite if it's someone else in the inn before you go to the orphanage. Check the door on the main floor to the left. You'll have a tough battle right off the start, but keep your HP up and you should make it fine. Get the key and go to the room to the left. Get the guestroom key from Joshua and go upstairs to the room on the left. Spin ring for the book and then go to the upper right room. The code is 5375. Look at the painting and go downstairs to the room between the stairs. The code is 3754. You'll be facing a tough double boss fight here, so be ready and equipped against petrify. I have the best luck with Keith as my third member, but I happen to hit him better than any of the others. Treasure around the orphanage: seal of luck, pure extract, monkey paw, lottery ticket, zodiac bracelet, monk earrings, eye of ouroboros. After boss fights check behind the curtain on the right of the boss fight room to find Draze. Monsters (eliminated after Mammon): Bansheex2/Larmgalgx2, item pure root/phoenix tail, XP 2870. Boss Fights: Night Stalker, item kid's room key, XP 4000; Jack, item seal of speed, XP 17000; Mammon, item demon earrings, XP 20000. Calios Mental Hospital 1: You'll have four unavoidable mini-boss fights here and some tough monsters. When you run into the bugs, kill the middle back one first or wipe out all of them with a special skill (Keith's Bat Dance is best for this, a little stronger than Zhuzhen's Ogre Flamedance and can usually take out all of them) and be equipped to stop status effects since the bugs are fast and can hit you with all kinds of stuff. On your way in grab the laurel slingshot and demon ward necklace. You'll see a little shimmer at the top left corner of the first screen inside the hospital. Grab it, it's one of four coins you'll need to progress. Get a lottery ticket from the chest at the end of the second hall, then head down and beat up the last set of friars. Search the bodies for the heart key and grab the coin just above the bodies, then head all the way back to the beginning of the hospital and go into the heart rooms to get: key to success, club key, fruit of yggdrasil. Use the club key to open the club room for the diamond key and final coins. Drop a coin in each fountain in the room with the save point, then go down the stairs. Halley will head off on his own, leaving Yuri and your third member to fight Rausen. Take the spade key from him and go to the spade room, where you can rest for free and get the dungeon key. Look inn the chest again to pick up the Fire Gravestone. Go back to the dungeon and use the key to get in. After a dialogue you'll fight Olga again, so prep against poison. You'll automatically go to London again after the boss fight. Monsters: Buggsx5, item soul benediction, XP 4000; Doomx2/Meat Eater, item mana root, thera root, XP 3820; Man Eaterx2/Doom, item thera root, mana root, XP 3890. Boss Fights: Specterx2, item b. tortoise fang, XP 3200 (four seperate fights); Rausan, item spade key, XP 15000; Olga, item warlock earrings, XP 22000. London 2: When Yuri wakes up head out to talk to Halley at the bridge. Go back inside and Alice will leave and go to Rouen. Rouen 3: Have Alice go into the church, do a push ring to get in, and go to the altar, then to the back confessional. Get a spin ring right to get a shocking picture, then head back out for a dialogue before Alice returns to London. London 3: Take Alice and a third member. Be sure to talk to Joshua. He'll give you the Oath Grail. At this point you can choose to fight the masks if you wish to. There is a possibility that you'll miss out on beating Atman if you don't wait until after fighting Amon, so you may want to hold off until the sidequests section to do the mask battles and it will give you a chance to level up anyhow. Have Halley in your party and give Joshua your slingshot. Go down the ramp for a mini-boss fight against Sharon's summon. It's a one on one and losing won't end the game, but if you want to keep those unconscious's off your score, save and prep Yuri. He should be able to beat it without too much difficulty on his own unless you've absolutely rushed through the game and he's at an impossibly low level. The monster is random. Watch out for the Shears if you get one, they're nasty little beasts, but not painfully difficult if you remember to heal since they can take out 200-300 points in a single turn. Boss Fight: optional and random, no items, XP according to fight. Mask Battles: Now is a good time to wipe out the masks. Read the Oath Grail in your list of valuables and run your malice to red, then save. The masks will show up in random order, but if you chance upon the order of the grail it will be a walk in the park. The Oath Grail order is Grail, Gold, Staff, Sword. The Drink refers to Atman, who you will fight later. Later on, Atman will not only be weakened, but you'll have Yuri in on the fight. For more on Atman, read the Float section. The Oath Grail's order will weaken the masks so they're very easy to beat, but it doesn't really have an effect on the outcome if they come out of order. The masks in order won't be able to use their judgement ring effects, either, and their special attacks will be wimpy. Save and tent between fights in case you can't handle one of the ones that comes out of order. You'll have a few fights against normal monsters between mask fights. Grail Mask will not only be unable to effect your judgement ring, but the grail will actually double your hit areas. If they do come out of order, Gold Mask hits you with Popping Spin, which is basically tiny ring on everyone. Staff Mask uses Tight Spin, halving your hit areas. Sword Mask uses Fast Spin, which speeds up your sweep. There's nothing you can do to prevent these attacks, so don't bother with pocket watches. Gold Mask is impervious to physical attack, so just beat him up with specials. Sword Mask is impervious to special attacks, so I'd have Yuri switch to Amon or Lobo and use their extra power on the physical attacks to gain the upper hand. Even if you have fast spin, you should be able to get in the first strike on the ring each turn. Keith is great here because you have enough room to get two or even three hits. In fights against unweakened masks, have Alice play support and heal everyone up because it's fairly easy to get a character unconscious after a couple of rounds. For beating the masks you'll get the following rings: Grail, amber; Gold, carnelian; Staff, lazurite; Sword, obsidian. Note, you will still accumulate malice after this, but go ahead and keep it on red. After they've been killed the first time the masks are absolute wimps you can take down with a single hit and they're rather humorous when they pop up, and if you want to complete your monster library you'll want to fight them each dead at least once. Now that you've got them beat, head to the graveyard and have Yuri check the tombstone so he's aware of the deal Alice made. It should have her name on it. Ut-oh, the secret's out and he's gonna have to do something about that, isn't he. Well, maybe later. Boss Fights: Grail Mask, item amber ring, XP 45000; Gold Mask, item carnelian ring, XP 45000; Staff Mask, item lazurite ring, XP 45000; Sword Mask, item obsidian ring, XP 45000; Dead Grail Mask, item thera leaf, XP 10; Dead Gold Mask, item thera leaf, XP 10; Dead Staff Mask, item thera leaf, XP 10; Dead Sword Mask, item thera leaf, XP10. Calios Mental Hospital 2: Head through the monestary to the dungeon again and search the pile of linens on the floor for Keith's Deathblade Jiru. (It's almost impossible to hit with this sword, but if you plan on using his rituals, it does amazing damage, and if you manage to hit all three it's instant death, even on bosses). Go back to the torture chamber and approach the chair for Lottery 4, Eternity Card. Be sure you've got your ring fixing accessories on. Monsters: Buggsx5, item soul benediction, XP 4000; Doomx2/Meat Eater, item mana root, thera root, XP 3820; Man Eaterx2/Doom, item thera root, mana root, XP 3890. IV. Nemeton Monastery Nemeton Monastery Part 1: Go to the strange house. Go all the way to the end of the ramps past the glowing machine with the heart on it to get the Light Gravestone. Leave and head for the ruins. At the far upper left of the second screen to the right of the grave marker pick up a mantel of nobility for Keith. Go inside and meet Roger Bacon, then explore the ruins and pick up a talisman of power at the end of the path. Return to Roger Bacon's house for a dialogue/cinema. His vending machine will now be open for you to use. (Continental Zero: silver talon, grand bible, four gods staff, 12 gauge, executioner sword, steel slingshot, hi-alloy slingshot, stygian robe, snow white robe, headgear, circlet, charming pareo, loin guard, shell bracelet, bone bracelet, rosewood bracelet, bell bracelet, mirror bracelet, zodiac bracelet, cosmic bracelet, spikes, pocket watch, will power, leonardo's bear, voodoo doll, jade lariat, coral lariat, thera root, mana root, pure root, talisman of mercy, talisman of wisdom, talisman of purity, soul benediction, bronze arrowhead, bronze dagger, silver hourglass, gold hourglass, tent.) Nemeton Monastery Part 2: Return to the ruins. Roger Bacon will open up the doors for you. You have a save point and Roger heals you for free, so take advantage of it. Wear leonardo's bears and your crucifix to stave off the effects of nightmare attacks, which can cause instant death. The warning device comes in handy as well. First check by the door for a lottery ticket, then head up and to the left. Go to the 2nd screen and check the upper left area for the mauser prototype. Take the bottom path and follow it to the end and check the chest, which opens a chest below. Go back to the 1st screen and this time take the lower right path, then on the next screen down the stairs at the bottom of the screen and check the chest in the upper right. All three chests will vanish along with the mist around the blue switch. Turn on the blue switch and head back. Check on the upper side of the path for the silver wolf fang and go to the end to open the unsealed chest for a mind's eye. Go back and follow the first path you took, this time continuing to the left. Go up on the next screen and hit the red switch, which will unseal the purple chest so you can get the holy book of martyrs. Go back and continue to the left, then take the next screen down and past the huge red cauldron and the torch pool. On the next screen take the upper path to the green switch and turn it on. Head all the way back to the chest that was in the white seal and open it for Zhuzhen's coat of the sage. Go back to the blue switch and turn it off. Run back to the place where the chest with the yellow seal was and get the seal of vitality. Return to the huge red cauldron and get the Destruction Stone (you must have this to get Amon as a fusion soul). Go all the way to the end and check on either side of the door for a seal of strength and a punk jacket for Halley. There's a save point there. If you have the money you can give your party their new weapons and level them up back in London where Meiyuan is at the inn. Make a fresh save as this is a no-turning-back point. You must have all six gravestones and the destruction stone at this point if you want to get Seraphic Radiance later on. When ready, go through the doors for a dialogue with Albert Simon and Koudelka, then a heavy boss fight against Albert and his fusion soul Amon. Like most boss fights, the key is to have someone playing support while the other two do damage. Amon is non- elemental, so pick your favorite soul for this fight. I like to have Sandalphon for this one because he does wonderful healing and protection against special attack and Pulse is a great offense as well. I like to have Keith for this one as well, particularly if he's levelled up well and has Apsaras. Great thing about Keith is he is the only one who can heal or remove status and do damage at the same time. Have Alice tossing items, healing, and getting in her best offense when she has a chance. When you do enough damage to Albert he'll fuse to Amon and you'll have to contend with some devestating special attacks so keep Sanctuary up. When you win you'll get Amon as a fusion soul and a cinema and the world changes. You'll return to Roger Simon's house and he'll tell you about his machine. You'll return to London. Monsters: Inverse, item tea of the holy one, XP 3000; Inversex2, item tea of the holy one, XP 6000; Guinea Pigx3, item pure root, XP 5400; Straithex2/Sin, item phoenix tail/talisman of purity, XP 5050; Sinx2/Straithe, item talisman of purity/phoenix tail, XP 5150. Boss Fight: Albert Simon/Amon, item angel earrings, XP 35000, Amon Fusion Soul. V. Side Quests, Documents, Hidden Bosses, Ultimate Weapons and Armor London 4: Halley's ultimate armor, Margarete's ultimate armor. Return to the hideout and go upstairs. After the dialogue go back downstairs. Talk to Joshua with Halley in your party and he'll give you the Improved Slingshot. You can also start your pit fights now against Sharon's summons. Each character has to make it through 10 fights to get their own prize. Yuri gets a Seventh Key, Keith the Belt of Thor, Alice a Crucifix, Margarete Tissues, Halley 's ultimate armor Metal Jacket, and Zhuzhen a Silver Hand, and if you get all six through their rounds you'll get the bonus of a Crystal Ring. For the pit fights the best strategy is to equip with a crucifix and pocket watch and either a belt of power or the belt of thor if you have it already. During easy fights restore your HP and MP so you're ready for the next battle in case it's a shear or a nasty boss. The fights are random, so you can face as many as three shears in a round. If you're having difficulty making it through, take that character out on a levelling run equipped with monk earrings and then bring them back after they've learned their ultimate special attack and try again. If you've been walking a lot and wearing your pedometer, talk to the Silent Peddler and he'll give you a Leather Suit for Margarete. Pit Fight Monsters: random, no items, XP according to fight. Nemeton Monastery 3: Documents 1 and 2. Return to the ruins with Alice and Zhuzhen to get a cinema and the Book of Rituals. Continue to the place where you fought Albert Simon for the Codex of Lurie. Monsters: Inverse, item tea of the holy one, XP 3000; Inversex2, item tea of the holy one, XP 6000; Guinea Pigx3, item pure root, XP 5400; Straithex2/Sin, item phoenix tail/talisman of purity, XP 5050; Sinx2/Straithe, item talisman of purity/phoenix tail, XP 5150. Ancient Ruins 1: Alice's ultimate armor. Read the Book of Rituals and it will open the Ancient Ruins on the world map. Go in, equip to protect against petrify. Go past the water pool and through the door on the top right. Grab the Angel Earrings from the chest, then follow the torch doors in the following order: red, orange, yellow, green, aqua, blue, purple. Be sure to grab the Lottery Ticket in the chest in the chamber with the aqua torch. After the red door you'll come out through the locked door next to the water pool. Go down the steps to get Alice's ultimate armor, Gold Thread Coat. Monsters: Asp, item pure extract, XP 3000; Basilisk, item mana extract, XP 3000, Asp/Basilisk, item pure extract, mana extract, XP 6000; Sweeper, item eye of ouroboros, XP 3300, Sweeperx2, item eye of ouroboros, XP 3300. Ancient Ruins 2: Hidden boss fight, Halley's ultimate weapon. Read the Book of Rituals again. In the Ancient Ruins follow the torches in the following order: purple, blue, aqua, green, yellow, orange, red. You'll come out by the water pool again. Go down the steps to fight Seraphim. This is the easier of the two hidden bosses. Use Sandalphon's sanctuary first, then hit him with your strongest special attacks. He should go down in a few rounds. For beating him you get Volt Snipe, Halley's ultimate weapon. Monsters: Asp, item pure extract, XP 3000; Basilisk, item mana extract, XP 3000, Asp/Basilisk, item pure extract, mana extract, XP 6000; Sweeper, item eye of ouroboros, XP 3300, Sweeperx2, item eye of ouroboros, XP 3300. Boss Fight: Seraphim, item Volt Snipe, XP 60000. Orphanage 2: Document 3. Go to the experiment room and talk to the little boy. Play hide and go seek with him and he'll let you pass. It may take a few tries. If time runs out, go see if you can find the little rascals you missed so you can figure out all the hiding places to check next time. They'll pick new places each time, but there are a limited number of places they hide. Those I have found are: Kids Room between the two bunks on the lower left and between the corner bunk and top bunk; ends of both balconies, next to the save point; Guest Room: top of the bed, under the table; Master's Room: next to the bookcase; Experiment Room: behind Moll. Go up the steps to the cauldron and talk to the little nutcase inside for the Emigre Manuscript and Lottery 3, Crucifix. Definately be armed with a pocket watch and other ring fixers because otherwise you have a blind ring. Examine the Emigre Manuscript to open the Cave Temple. Hold off on going into the Cave Temple until you have at least three crucifixes. You should have the ones from the lottery and Joshua already. If you haven't gotten Alice's pit fight prize yet, get it before you do the Cave Temple or the Dollhouse as you'll face tough monsters in both if you're not properly equipped. Rouen 4: Margarete's ultimate weapon, Zhuzhen's ultimate armor. Go to Meiyuan's room for a letter from Quihua and an update on what's going on in China. You'll get the Coat of the Adept for Zhuzhen. Put Margarete in your party. Head for the church. Continue on into the church and you'll get a cinema with Margarete's true feelings about Yuri. Afterwards she'll give you the Pearl Ring. Stop in the alley and talk to the lottery guy. He's now Lottery 2, 10-Gauge Shotgun, Margarete's ultimate weapon. He also has the unique item Dice of Caeser, so you might want to try to grab that first as after you get the 10-Gauge he'll revert to Lottery 6. Bistritz 4/Blue Castle 4: Keith's ultimate weapon. Talk to Nina with Keith in your party. She'll send you to the castle to investigate a golden light. Prepare for one of the funniest scenes in the game. Go to the castle and to the coffin room. If you're not good on Keith's hits yet equip some Judgement Ring accessories on him. Talk to the bat, who will give Keith the Demon Sword Tyrving (awesome awesome weapon) if you can survive a one on one duel with him. Not too hard if you're good at hitting with Keith as the bat gives you six free shots before he goes after you and he tends to miss when he does, but watch out. If you don't have him dead by that sixth chance and he manages to hit you, it's instant death, game over. Return to Bistritz and remove Keith from the party. Go back to Blue Castle and enter the throne room. If you watch you'll see an invisible man (Keith-like man, hrmm.. Keith invisible again and he's the lottery guy who frustrated me so?! *sigh*) who is Lottery 1, Thief Earrings. Boss Fight: Golden Bat, item demon sword tyrving, XP 48000. Prague 4/Dollhouse: Alice's ultimate weapon. Put Alice in your party and head to Prague's tavern. You'll have to have picked up the Air Gravestone before you can proceed here. Talk to the man in the center of the tavern. Go back out to the map and the Dollhouse will open. Go to the Dollhouse and check outside to get oracle earrings. Examine the clock to get the crank. Go to the room on the right and out the top. Go to the left side of the fountain and do a push ring for the storeroom key. Go back out and around to the storeroom. Use the crank to turn on the generator. Go down, picking up the silver hand on the way, and get the slide plate from the table. Go back into the house and up the stairs and put the slide in the projector to get the code 1224. Go down the stairs and into the room on the right and enter the code in the lighted lock. Return to the storeroom, go down the ladder, and down the stairs. Go into the room and examine the chest to the right of the bed to get a crucifix. Equip for a major battle. When you try to leave the room the doll will come to life and you'll have to go at it. Have Alice attack or play support, or have your third party member play support and slam it with everything you've got. For winning this battle you'll get Alice's ultimate weapon, Holy Book of Flesh. Monsters: Ghoulx2/Ghoulerx2, item soul benediction, XP 6000; Ghoulx2/Spankyx2, item soul benediction/talisman of power, XP 6000; Ghoulerx2/Spankyx2, item soul benediction/talisman of power, XP 6000. Boss Fight: Orb Chaos, item holy book of flesh, XP 48000. Cave Temple 1: Keith's ultimate armor. Read the Emigre Manuscript. Go to the Cave Temple and examine the wall on the left for a map. Take a few sidepaths from this map to get all the items, though. Wear crucifixes in here, these monsters are mini-bosses in and of themselves. If you come across a band of Buggies, take them all out immediately with a spell as they'll otherwise all gang up on a single character and take him down with deathtouch attacks. Using the warning device to prevent back attacks is another good idea. Here are the directions: Up-Up to get priest earrings. Up-Left-Up-Left-Down-Down-Left-Up for lottery ticket. Up-Left-Up-Left-Down-Down-Left-Left-Up-Left-Up (save)-Up to get Keith's Mantle of Shivering. You will return to the front and be shut out. Monsters: Penaltyx3, item thera extract, XP 6600; Buggyx5, item tissues, XP 6750; Oingo, item fruit of yggdrasil, XP 3300; Oingox2, item fruit of yggdrasil, XP 6600. Cave Temple 2: Hidden boss, Zhuzhen's ultimate weapon. Read the Emigre Manuscript again. Go to the Cave Temple, this time following the reverse pathway. Up-Up to get Fifth Key. Up-Right-Up-Right-Down-Down-Right-Up to get Key to Success. Up-Right-Up-Right-Down-Down-Right-Right-Up-Right (save)-Up for Boss Fight Cherubim. Equip for a strong boss and give Yuri Sandalphon. Fuse to Sandalphon and use Sanctuary, then use his special attacks only for healing the party and renewing Sanctuary, all special attacks heal Cherubim. I generally have Alice along to give another healer and Keith because he's got a powerful physical attack and you should have both their ultimate weapons at this point. Keep an eye on Alice's SP because this is a long battle and use her as the support member while Keith and Sandalphon beat Cherubim down with physical attacks. For winning you'll get Zhuzhen's ultimate weapon, the Holy Peak Staff. Monsters: Penaltyx3, item thera extract, XP 6600; Buggyx5, item tissues, XP 6750; Oingo, item fruit of yggdrasil, XP 3300; Oingox2, item fruit of yggdrasil, XP 6600. Boss Fight: Cherubim, item holy peak staff, XP 60000. Nemeton Monastery 4: Beating Atman, Alternate ending. Talk to Roger Bacon. Alice will fall into a sleep and wind up in the Graveyard. Have Alice check her tombstone before going up to the masks. Here is where fighting the masks comes into play. If you haven't fought them or fought them without reading the Oath Grail or without Yuri reading the tombstone Alice will fight alone. Atman will be practically impervious to her attacks and will wipe her out with a single hit of Oblivion no matter what you do. The game will continue, you'll register another unconscious on your score, and Alice will fear her impending doom in Float as well as giving you the less certain ending of the game. If you fought the masks after reading the Oath Grail and Yuri checked the tombstone, Yuri will show up and join the fight. Atman will be weakened (he's the Drink on the Oath Grail) and the two of them can take him out, although it's still a bit of a tough fight. You can then mock the masks whenever you talk to them and Alice won't fear her death later on, and you'll get the happy ending. Atman gives you the Moonstone Ring for beating him. Talk to the masks again and they'll give you the Seven-Eyed Mask. Boss Fight: Atman, item moonstone ring, 45000. Ancient Ruins 3: Document 4, Seraphic Radiance, Yuri's ultimate armor. Talk to Roger again. If you have Shanghai Angels (which you should have gotten in China in Kuihai Tower) he'll give you the Pulse Tract. Go to the Ancient Ruins and follow the torches in this order: yellow, red, green, purple, blue, red, teal. Go down the stairs and get the Stone of Rebirth from the chest. Go to the Graveyard of Souls and enter the Soul Gate at the top of the screen (where you fought Fox Face). You'll meet Yuri's dad and then fight him and Seraphic Radiance to get it as a fusion soul. This fight is long, but not that hard if you're prepared. To prepare, go to Cave Temple with thief and pirate earrings on your party and get yourself some Thera Extracts and Fruit of Yggdrasils from Penalties and Oingos respectively. Wear the Seven-Eyed Mask and Moonstone Ring and use Amon since he does the most damage. Whack away with Demon Rays or The End and heal up regularly once Seraphic Radiance starts beating up on you. You should be able to get in one or two attacks between healings. Keep wearing the soul down and you'll get it. You'll also get the Diamond Ring. Look behind the tree for Yuri's ultimate armor, Father's Coat. You'll get his ultimate weapon after going to Neamato. Now take your party to someplace with easy monsters, like Blue Castle. Equip Yuri with Seraphic Radiance and the small jug. Have Keith in your party and your third party member wearing the huge jug. Enter a fight and switch Yuri to Seraphic Radiance, then defend, making sure your other two don't berserk, until Seraphic Radiance learns his final attack. Monsters: Asp, item pure extract, XP 3000; Basilisk, item mana extract, XP 3000, Asp/Basilisk, item pure extract, mana extract, XP 6000; Sweeper, item eye of ouroboros, XP 3300, Sweeperx2, item eye of ouroboros, XP 3300. Boss Fight: Seraphim, item Volt Snipe, XP 60000. Boss Fight: Colonel Hyuga/Seraphic Radiance, item diamond ring, XP 60000, Fusion Soul Seraphic Radiance. VI. Neamato Nemeton Monastery 5: Talk to Roger Bacon and he'll get you headed for Float. You'll have to do a 5-spin ring for Roger to make it on the treadmill, wheezy 700 old guy that he is. You'll only have to succeed on it once, though, and in subsequent visits it'll be taken as automatic. Neamato1st Floor: Wear your thief and pirate earrings around all of Neamato except boss fights. The monsters here give you great items and you should already have plenty of money for anything you might need at this point if your ultimate weapons are already levelled up. Switch to your final party and wear monk earrings if you want to beef them up in levels. Once on Float, head for the second stairway, the one on the left. Go up to the barrier that blocks the path, then go back to the first stairway to the right. Everyone will split up to look around. Yuri will be Yuri and get himself and one of the party members in trouble. It usually seems to be whoever is in the third slot behind Yuri on the menu screen. Pick a party from the remaining four and head back to the main chamber, then to second staircase. Keep going straight until you reach a triangular object on a pillar in front of you. Examine it and choose to push the button. You'll be switched back to Yuri and whichever of the party got stuck with him and have to make your way to where the rest of your party is waiting. Take the right exit prepared for a decent boss battle and approach the monster sitting in the center of the room, Soul Block. This monster is immune to physical attack, so be sure you put Yuri into a soul where you can handle the hit pattern fairly well. Beat it and three circles will appear. One is your escape hatch (yellow), one is party reform (pink) and one is a save point (blue). Run around and collect the treasure. When you see a colored light going upwards, step onto it to release that barrier and open the passage that corresponds to that color. Be sure to head back out once you've gotten the green barrier opened and down the passage below the triangular power switch to get Halley's Crank Slingshot, although if you have the Volt Snipe you won't need to use it. You can also pick up on the first floor passages a seal of aura, a lottery ticket, berserker earrings, a seal of vitality, Alice's silver thread coat, a sage staff for Zhuzhen, a rubber suit for either of the girls, and monk earrings. Note that none of the weapons or armor surpasses the ultimates you should already have at this point. Monsters (there's a lot of combos, so I'm going to just give you the items and XP for each monster and you can figure it out as far as how they team up): Main Floors: Enkido, item thera extract, XP 2220; Emptiness, item tea of the holy one, XP 2150; hangman, item alchemist's water, XP 3500. Corridors: Arcmine, item mana extract, XP 2340; Enigma, item pure extract, XP 2890; Keeper, item kirin scale, XP 3300. Boss Fight: Soul Block, item monkey paw, XP 40000. Nemeton Monastery 6: Yuri's ultimate weapon. Return to Roger's place. He's got an experiment going. Help him out with it. You'll have to do a 10-spin ring to get him where he's going, but when he gets back he'll have Yuri's ultimate weapon, Nightbird Claw. Go ahead, you have my permission to scream a few times during that nasty 10-spin. And if you're one of those strange people who can get it on the first try, I despise your skills. Talk to Roger again and tell him you have to go to the bathroom. He's the Lottery Chairman, Cotton Underpants (why are the old guys carting around panties?). You might also want to grab the comet mask from him as it's a unique item. Neamato 2nd Floor: Go up from the first floor platform with the three circles and up the stairs at about the 2 o'clock position. Take the path to the left side and go left all the way to the end. You'll find yourself facing a circular set of stairs leading up to a creature that looks like a slug. Set up for a boss fight and approach the creature to start. It shouldn't be too tough a fight if you're prepared with items and will open up another set of circles. Monsters: Arcmine, item mana extract, XP 2340; Enigma, item pure extract, XP 2890; Keeper, item kirin scale, XP 3300. Boss Fight: Hate, item seventh key, XP 54000. Neamato 3rd Floor: Go past the second floor circles and head up the stiars, then through the passage and up the stairs. You're going to face the toughest set of monsters yet, but wearing thief and pirate earrings on all your party should give you enough items to keep your party running around without trouble. I recommend equipping your characters with monk earrings, pirate earrings, and crucifixes. At the top of the stairs you'll enter a warp point and wind up in a room with two sets of stairs. Zhuzhen will explain that warps are how you get around this area. It may seem consfusing at first, but there's only five rooms in this part, really, and warps just move you to different points in each room. Going backwards through the same points take you back on your course until you're in the initial warp room. For a quick escape, take the stairs up, keep going until you warp to a room with circular paths around a central stairway leading up. Go up the stairs you come out on and make an immediate right to the pathway and go to the end. You'll warp to a circular platform just past where you initially entered the maze. Take the left path until you get to the squared off stairs. Go straight instead of going up the stairs and you'll find a dark alcove under the stairs that will warp you back outside of the entry point. Now you can go back down the stairs and to the second floor circles. The shortcut path to get to the next boss and create a new set of circles is take the stairs up, follow the same path as the escape route, but instead of going straight towards the dark alcove, cut to the right and go up the stairs. You'll warp to the foot of the stairs facing up. However, there's treasure and fun in the warp maze, so.. here's the treasure path: down the stairs, go right, go up, cut to the left to get a mind's eye, then right, go up around to the upper path, go left, open the chest for Heretic's Coat, go back to upper path, go right around stairs, get fifth key, go left and get talisman of power, go right, return to platform and go left, cut up stairs and go to central stairway. If you get lost, don't get panicky. Just warp around using the items you get from fights to keep you healthy. You should get through it eventually. At the top of the stairs approach Scapegoat prepared for a boss fight. Like Hate, it's not a terribly difficult one if you're prepared with items. Attack it with whatever works for you and have a support person keep up with healing and restoring items. Okay, your final chance to escape before the big ones! Monsters: Cockatrice, item fruit of yggdrasil, XP 6000 (immune to physical attack); Black Widow, item eye of ouroboros, XP 5500; Red Cap, item talisman of power, XP 10000. Boss Fight: Scapegoat, item crucifix, XP 50000. London 5: You should now have a 100% monster fought standing. Go talk to Carl and he'll reward you with, um, Black Silk Panties for Alice. I wouldn't wear panties I got from some old guy, but there it is. Final Bosses: This is a double fight, but you'll be able to switch characters and be automatically healed between them, so take the time now to plan out who's going and get them ready. You should also stock up with fights on items you think will come in handy during the fights, but the final bosses aren't killer tough. Equip rings on those who will face the second boss who uses attacks from all elements. Also handy are crucifixes, will powers, the seven-eyed mask, and other attack or defense items as you prefer. For both fights have Yuri, another strong attacker, and a third person who can do decent attacks but also provide support. If you're confident with your hits on Amon or Seraphic Radiance, go ahead and use them. I actually prefer to use Sandalphon because of his easier skill with healing the whole party at once. Your first fight will be against Albert Simon, our old buddy, who transforms into Messiah for the game. Don't worry, he's still up to his old tricks with the Holy Chest, but he also likes to pull some hard physical punches. Standard strategy, hit him, hit him, hit him, let him hit you, two strongest attackers hit and third person heals you up. Once you beat him you'll get another Silver Hand and your last bit of experience before you're automatically transported to fight Meta-God. This battle is less scary than long. Just keep your head and keep your numbers white. Don't waste a turn putting up any skills like Sanctuary or For Everyone, he'll just take them away and you'll waste MP and an attack opportunity. Meta-God attacks with one element each turn. Patiently whack away at him with your strongest physical and special attacks while the supporter keeps you in line and eventually you'll defeat him. Hey! You won the game! Your reward is a cinema explaining where all the characters go. Save after they're all done. You can play again with your old score posted for comparison and you get to keep all of your fusion souls. Cool! Boss Fights: Messiah, item silver hand, XP 60000; Meta-God, win game. Contact me, please, at ljaraba@earthlink.net if you have any more information to add. I will give you credit